MLB News

Gausman slows Tigers as O's do the driving

By
Jason Beck and Brittany GhiroliMLB.com

BALTIMORE -- In a series heavy on runs, it was the Orioles who were able to finally keep things under wraps.

Baltimore got a quality seven innings from right-hander Kevin Gausman and used home runs from Caleb Joseph and Manny Machado to record a 6-2 win over the Tigers in front of a soldout crowd at Camden Yards on Saturday night. Gausman allowed only a two-run homer to Nick Castellanos in the fifth inning, holding a lethal lineup to four hits.

BALTIMORE -- In a series heavy on runs, it was the Orioles who were able to finally keep things under wraps.

Baltimore got a quality seven innings from right-hander Kevin Gausman and used home runs from Caleb Joseph and Manny Machado to record a 6-2 win over the Tigers in front of a soldout crowd at Camden Yards on Saturday night. Gausman allowed only a two-run homer to Nick Castellanos in the fifth inning, holding a lethal lineup to four hits.

"This is a really good offensive team. Statistically maybe the best in baseball," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "You can't let your guard down at any time. There's a crooked number waiting on you. We pitched real well tonight."

Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez gave up six earned runs -- his most since May 24 -- on nine hits, and exited after Machado's two-out solo shot in the seventh.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDGausman goes seven strong: The righty impressively navigated through Detroit's lineup, allowing only Castellanos' homer. Gausman, who has pitched at least seven innings in back-to-back starts, struck out six and didn't issue a walk in the 106-pitch outing. More >

"I felt good. Early on, I really just kind of went at them with my fastballs and then I tried to mix it up after that. I think for the first three innings, I think I only threw a couple changeups," Gausman said. "That was good. That was good for me. That's a tough lineup, especially [Ian Kinsler hitting third] now, it kind of changes things up a little bit."

Castellanos crushes: The Tigers went hitless for 3 2/3 innings and scoreless for four until Castellanos hit a fly ball that kept carrying to right-center field, landing in the seats for a two-run home run, his 11th homer of the season. That tied his total from all of last year with 194 fewer plate appearances.

Parra debuts: New O's outfielder Gerardo Parra, acquired in a Trade Deadline deal, got a rousing ovation as he came to the plate. And he delivered, doubling and scoring as part of a two-run first inning. Parra, who got the start in left field, also walked in the seventh. More >

"I thought he had a really nice first at-bat, that was a tough pitch to square it up and get us on the board early there," Joseph said. "With Manny getting on base as much as he does, that two-hole is a big spot for us, and [Parra] came up big for us tonight."

Take this ball and shovel it: Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias hadn't made the highlight reel in a while, but he made up for lost time with a gem of a play, charging a ground ball and then shoveling it behind him to Kinsler at second base. He made a barehanded grab for the force out and barely missed turning a double play.

"He practices plays like that every day," Kinsler said. "We practice him going up the middle, him coming in, him going away from second, so that on plays like that he has options to make."

QUOTABLE"I thought Matt had a couple big hits for us tonight. Got his feet wet at first base. Those are some big feet." -- Showalter, on Wieters' first career start at first base

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS• Parra became the 1,000th player to play for the Orioles organization since the club moved to Baltimore in 1954. Of those players, 67 were All-Stars, 17 won Gold Gloves and 13 are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Five were inducted as Orioles: Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr. and Frank Robinson.

• The two home runs off Sanchez bumped his season total to 24, tying him with CC Sabathia for second-most among American League pitchers this season. Only Phil Hughes (25) has more. More >

"His stuff was good," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of Sanchez. "It's just the two home runs that hurt more than anything else."

INJURY REPORTTigers right fielder J.D. Martinez left the game in the third inning after fouling a ball off his left knee an inning earlier. X-rays were negative, and he's listed as day to day. More >

WHAT'S NEXTTigers:Daniel Norris (1-1, 3.86 ERA) will make his Tigers debut Sunday (1:35 p.m. ET start), three days after joining the organization from Toronto as the top prospect in the David Price trade. He gets the start for the series finale against the Orioles, whom he faced twice in Spring Training but not in the regular season.

Orioles: Baltimore will cap the four-game series by sending Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound. He is 8-6 with a 3.73 ERA on the year.